Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-09-08

| fiume in an oblique manner. fardoE
any thing, sir, in this communication
which may sound harsh or clash with
the smooth and scholarly style OF assas-
sination peculiar to the Code. L desire
to meet you in mortal combat, but
want to do it in a polished way, and
desire to word this note so that it will
read well in print, like other chal-
lenges.
have consulted several friends
about the prospect of our meeting IN
duel at no distant day, and all of them
seem to be highly gratified. 1t affords
me great pleasure to know that L go
into this thing with the hearty indorse-
ment and godspeed of all, without dis
tinction. If you would prefer to wait
a few weeks, till the weather is cooler,
so that you can lie in state longer, !
will try to muzzle my wrath, but would
advise you not to cross my trail in the
meantime.
Ny second will no doubt inform you
that 1 am an expert and deadly swords
man, and will try to convince you that
it will be best not to name the sword.
Do not pc too proud to heed his adj
vice. 1t may save your life and mine
also.
hope you will not treat this chal-
lenge lightly, sir, and try still further
to heap ridicule upon an old and mil
dewed name by suggesting soft gloves
or watermelons as weapons. Let us
meet as gentlemen, sir-tire and fall
down, stagger to our feet, lean heavily
against tree, mutter few words in a
hoarse voice, gasp two times in rapid
succession, put on our coats, and go
home.
l feel almost certain; sir, that you
will treat this note in sighting and
jaunty manner, but beg that you will
not do so. For the sake of the Tidds,
who were always a plain but rather
pleasant set of people, and for the sake
of the De Nyes, whose only fault has
been their fondness for fresh, hot
blood, furnished by other parties; for
the sake of all our ancestors, sir, let me
beg of you to assist in making this duel
u success.
If have been brutal in the wording
of this challenge, sir, or violated the
Code, or misspelled any words, will
you please have it corrected before you
send it to the printer? ask this favor
Of you in all sincerity and in as cOurte-
Ous a manner as possible, hoping that
you will grant it promptly and that
you will lose no opportunity to do all
the good you can during the next few
lays.
have arranged all my earthly af-
fairs with the exception of paying my
poll-taX. l have turned off the gas
meter and am prepared for any acct
dent, though the police have promised
to come in and arrest us at any time we
may agree upon.
In closing, sir, allow me to express
the hope that you will surely be at the
duel and that you will bring your din
ner.
My second will offer you the choice
IF weapons, with an opportunity for re-
traction. If you enter into life and its
enjoyments with real zest. 1 would adj
wise you to avail yourself of the oppor-
tunity to retract, for, although, sir,
would be a great deal happier with
your hearts blood. the retraction will
10 me just as well, and you need not
youaself in writing it. / do
not ask you. sir. to grovel. You can
write retraction which will not COM
promise you at all and yet one that will
give me much pleasure.
In the meantime, sir. shall remain
Mt the above address. awaiting your
decision, and whatever it may be, sir,
beg to remain your most obedient an
tagonist and well-wisher,
WILLIAM DE NYE,
Formerly Duke of Sweetwater County
and Referee during the Modoc War.
N. Y. World.